Inviting People Into The Presence Of God

What lengths would you go to see people enter the presence of Jesus? In the Scripture text above, we see an incredible relationship between 5 men. These men had probably known each other for some time. Because of their actions, we see a deep level of love, trust, and caring.
 
When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. 5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:1-5.
 
The paralytic had to have complete trust in his friends. First, there was the journey to the house where
Jesus was teaching. Regardless of the distance traveled, he had to trust them. I don’t know too many people who would allow themselves to be strapped to a mattress, carried up on top of a roof, and then be lowered into someone’s living room, without some level of trust.
The four men that carried the paralytic to the home, at the least, had to have heard stories about Jesus. Maybe they had heard Jesus teach or even seen the miracles He performed. Regardless of how they picked up the paralytic and carried him to see Jesus. Some people might have given up when they couldn’t get through the front door. Not these men. Their love and concern for their friend caused them to set aside their own safety, set aside the cost of a new roof, and even set aside any attention or possible embarrassment from their actions.
Let’s look at this from Jesus’ perspective. Jesus is teaching the word. All of a sudden, there is a commotion outside. Then He hears someone walking and moving around on the roof. THEN, someone starts to tear the roof apart, and a man on a mattress appears in front of Him. Jesus looks at the man in front of Him, and then He looks up. Four faces are looking down at Him in expectant faith. Verse 5 says, And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Jesus responded to the faith of these four men that cared for and loved their friend. Jesus changed the paralytic’s life forever.
 
Whom will you lower into the presence of Jesus with expectant faith?

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